Felix stares down at Jake—down at a *Prince* on one knee at *his* feet. Every part of him is screaming *is this a joke? what's going on? what's the catch?*
But one look in his eyes—so fierce in his affection, so sure in his love…
And the room disappears around them.
"Are… are you *serious?"* Felix whispers.
Jake's thumb strokes his knuckles—a silent *yes.*
"More serious than I've ever been about anything in my life," Jake says, voice low and ragged. "Will you Marry me."
Felix's heart hammers against his ribs, loud enough to drown out everything else. He's light-headed, dizzy with adrenaline—he tries to speak, tries to form words... but all that comes out is a soft, broken:
"...are you sure?"
Jake's fingers tighten around Felix's, his own heart pounding like a drum.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," he says fiercely. "I don't care about status or politics or anything else. I only care about you."
He leans forward, lowering his voice.
"Please," he murmurs, "say yes."
He looks so vulnerable—nothing at all like the self-assured, arrogant Prince everyone expects him to be.
Just a man begging for the love of his life.
Felix can't do anything but stare down at him, heart skipping in his chest. He's still half convinced he's dreaming—this can't be real, it can't be, no way, no, never—
But as Jake's hand tightens around his own, the warmth of his touch grounding him...
Tears blur Felix's vision, but they don't spill.
"Yes," he finally breathes. "Yes, I'll marry you."
A roar of shock ripples through the ballroom. Nobles stumble back. Guards shift nervously.
Even King Aldric looks stunned—his composure shattered for the first time all night.
But Jake? He *grins.* Wild, bright, unapologetic—the kind of smile that could burn down kingdoms or rebuild them.
He surges up, pulling Felix into his arms before anyone can speak, before anyone can stop him—and kisses him deep and hard in front of the entire court.
Velvet crushes against uniform. Glove presses into cheek. And for one perfect moment—
**The world stops.**
When they break apart, Jake rests his forehead against Felix's, voice a husky whisper only he can hear:
**"You're mine now."**
And across the hall—
A single door closes softly.
Mika is gone.
Mika leaves the ballroom in a fury—and a vow.
No *Omega* would stand in his way. No matter what it took, he would win Jake's heart—even if he had to tear it from Felix's hands.
Felix's heart skips as the weight of the moment sinks in. He's no longer a nameless nobody—he's *Jake's fiancé.* And that means he'll always be a target.
But in that moment, he couldn't bring himself to care. Because he knows, with one look in Jake's eyes...
He's worth fighting for.
---
Mika watches from the shadows as Jake and Felix walk through the palace garden, hands clasped together. His lip curls with disdain.
They look so happy—so *in love.*
Disgusting.
He smooths his robes, eyes cold and calculating. He won't let some nobody steal what should have been *his.*
And so he begins to plan:
A whispered lie here. A suggestive glance there. A touch too long on Jake's arm when he passes him in the hall...
He'll make Jake doubt.
Make him question whether a that Felix truly belongs by his side.
And one day soon... Felix will be nothing but a memory.
But for now?
He smiles sweetly at the Prince during breakfast, offering him tea with delicate grace—eyes full of feigned warmth.
"Good morning, your highness," he says softly—the perfect picture of courtly elegance. "I hope you slept well."
Jake barely glances at him. His mind is still on Felix—from their kiss last night to the ring that will come soon.
But Mika doesn't flinch.
**Let them have their happiness,**
he thinks as he sips his tea—
**It won't last forever."**
Mika watches as Jake sips his tea, a thrill in his heart. He's worked hard to get this far—flirting with Jake at every opportunity, lingering glances and suggestive comments. And today, he's finally made his move by adding something into the tea... a new drug that's been circulating in royal court, known to make Alphas and Omegas lose control—a perfect way to put some distance between Jake and Felix.
He watches as Jake sets the empty teacup back down, waiting for the effects to set in.
Jake sets the teacup down, frowning slightly. A strange warmth pulses in his chest—low and insistent, spreading through his veins like fire.
"Hmm," he murmurs, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Feeling... odd."
Mika leans forward with feigned concern.
"Are you alright, your highness?" he asks softly—voice dripping with false sweetness. "Perhaps you're just tired? The stress of engagement can be overwhelming."
Jake tries to focus on Mika's face—but it blurs at the edges.
His skin is too hot.
His thoughts... hazy.
And then a voice whispers deep inside:
*Claim him.*
**No—**
He grits his teeth—clutching the armrest of his chair hard enough to crack wood—but something inside *snaps.*
The Alpha in him rises—not out of love or choice...
But from raw, *chemical lust.*
And when Mika stands too close under the guise of checking on him—
Jake lunges up with a low growl,
grabbing Mika by the collar—
"Stay away from me," he snarls through clenched teeth —sweat beading on his brow as he fights every instinct screaming at him to **take what
But Mika doesn't back down.
Instead, he *smirks.*
"You can't resist it, Prince," he murmurs, voice silk over steel. "The drug was made for moments like this—your body knows what it wants. *Needs.* And right now... it wants *me.*"
Jake snarls again, shoving him away with brute force—but his legs wobble. His vision swims.
Every nerve is on fire.
He stumbles backward into the wall—breathing hard—as the chemical storm rages through him. He tries to summon Felix's face in his mind—the way his eyes light up when he laughs—but all that comes is static and heat and want—
"*F-Felix…*" he chokes out—voice ragged with shame and need.
But Mika only tilts his head... coldly satisfied.
**"He's not here,"** he whispers, stepping closer again. **"But I am."**
And from the garden gate—
A gasp cuts through the air.
Felix stands frozen—eyes wide with horror—as he sees Jake pressed against the wall… and Mika closing in.
His heart shatters in one breathless second—
Then burns into something far more dangerous:
**Betrayal has a name today—and it's Mika Madison.**
Felix's hands curl into fists, nails biting into his palms. He doesn't scream. Doesn't cry.
He *moves.*
Like a shadow with fire in his veins, he storms across the garden path—past roses and marble statues—until he slams into the doorway of the gazebo where Jake and Mika are.
"Get. Away. From him." His voice is low, trembling with rage.
Mika turns slowly, smile sharp as a knife.
"He's not himself right now," Mika says softly. "He doesn't even know who you are."
Lies.
All lies—but Jake *is* struggling—the drug twisting him from within—and when he lifts his head, eyes dazed and wild…
Felix's breath catches.
But then—
A broken whisper: "*...Felix?*"
And just like that—through the haze—the real Jake fights to surface.
Tears blur Felix's vision as he lunges forward—not at Jake—but at Mika—slamming both hands on his chest and shoving him hard against the pillar behind him.
"You did this," Felix snarls through gritted teeth. "**You poisoned him!**"
Mika only laughs—a cold, brittle sound full of triumph—and whispers one last venomous truth:
**"He'll never be safe with you."**
But before Felix can strike—
Jake collapses to his knees—moaning in pain as the drug tears through him like wildfire.
And all either of them can do...
Is watch helplessly while love battles poison—and hope it wins in time
Every muscle in Jake's body *burns* as he gasps for breath—trying to control the fever and the *need* coursing through him.
He's shaking—fighting to stay *himself*—as the world blurs at the edges.
But when his gaze finds Felix—standing over him like a guardian angel—he takes a sharp breath.
"**Felix…**" he whispers. His voice is ragged—broken—torn by both lust and love. "Darling. Felix. I'm sorry—I'm trying—I don't know what's happening…. I would never—."
Felix sinks to his knees, taking Jake's face in trembling hands.
"Look at me," he whispers. "Just look at me, alright? Try and focus."
Jake's eyes flutter—trying to latch onto Felix's face. The drug makes it difficult—makes him want to *move—*but he fights it with everything he has.
"Felix," he rasps again. "I'm sorry. So sorry. I'm trying…. I don't want this…. This is *wrong…*"
Felix takes a shaky breath—fighting the hot tears gathering in his eyes. Seeing Jake like this makes him want to scream.
"I know," he whispers. "You have nothing to be sorry for. That bastard *drugged you*."
Jake moans—trying to get his breathing under control. His skin is flushed with fever, and he's shaking under Felix's touch.
"I can't…. I can't fight it," he grits out, pain and humiliation mixing on his face. "God, I'm sorry. I feel like I'm going crazy…"